An X-Kilt over spring break (aka "Project Cheapskate")

[sydnie7]

Just a note about matching thread to fabric. Don't be afraid to tease out the loose end of the thread from the spool and lay about 3-4 inches of it atop your fabric. The best match will "disappear" against your fabric. You'll be surprised by what you THINK matches when holding fabric up against the rack of thread spools vs. what actually matches using this method!

Depending on brand, you may have to slightly lift the label on the end of the spool to find the loose end. BTW, if you reject a color, it's good manners to then refasten the loose end of the thread into the little notch in the spool (or however it was held originally) and place it back into the correctly numbered slot in the rack.

[meinfs]

Project cheapskate is back on.

I didn't get a chance to finish the kilt over spring break, and I've been terribly busy since, but last night I finally bartacked the pleats. Over the weekend I will be sewing in the inner pleat folds, and doing the taper, and hopefully I'll have the rest done early next week.

Good luck with the denim project. I used denim as well but followed a hand sewn traditional design instead. Check out my post on here.

Oh and this may be late but I would highly recommend 100% polyester thread (high quality) instead of dual duty -- especially! for denim. Dual-duty leaves fuzzy cotton threads on the stitching and because denim is a rather dense weave, running the dual-duty through it may cause the thread to get stripped (more of a problem in hand sewn stitches than machine-sewd albeit).

[sydnie7]

[snip]Oh and this may be late but I would highly recommend 100% polyester thread (high quality) instead of dual duty -- especially! for denim. Dual-duty leaves fuzzy cotton threads on the stitching and because denim is a rather dense weave, running the dual-duty through it may cause the thread to get stripped (more of a problem in hand sewn stitches than machine-sewd albeit).

There's another thread somewhere here discussing the new "formulation" of Dual-Duty -- it's now 100% poly, not poly/cotton, so the problem you mention seems to have been solved. That said, at last Joanne's sale I bought enough of the "high-priced spread" at 50% off to match my next two major projects.

[AlphaKilts]

If you need snaps applied to your kilt feel free to shoot me an email, those snaps usually come a couple hundred to a bag and the ones you get at local shops dont hold very well. So if you dont mind covering the shipping I can hook you up with some industrial snaps. Take care brother.

daron@alphakilts.com

[meinfs]

There's another thread somewhere here discussing the new "formulation" of Dual-Duty -- it's now 100% poly, not poly/cotton, so the problem you mention seems to have been solved. That said, at last Joanne's sale I bought enough of the "high-priced spread" at 50% off to match my next two major projects.

Oh, thanks. I do recall seeing that "thread" and I'd forgotten about it. Somehow I have it in my head to be wary of anything that says "dual-duty." I mostly read about it. And I also found some old ones lying around in a sewing box and used it as basting (and I could see the fraying). But now with a growing experience in sewing, I learn about it more (I've just finished my second kilt, an X-kilt.)

[Makeitstop]

If you need snaps applied to your kilt feel free to shoot me an email, those snaps usually come a couple hundred to a bag and the ones you get at local shops dont hold very well. So if you dont mind covering the shipping I can hook you up with some industrial snaps. Take care brother.

daron@alphakilts.com

I really appreciate the offer, but I'm happy with velcro for this one. Honestly, the shipping would be more expensive than the kilt.




So, I finished the taper (after a 2 hour break to find the elusive second spool of thread, when I ran out right after starting the last line on the last pleat) belted the thing up and it fits! Tomorrow I hope to finally finish this son of a- er, this delightful project. The only question is whether I'll have the cargo pockets done tomorrow, as I will probably stray from the plans a bit, and therefore must plan things out and be extra careful.


I'm also finding that now that it is all pleated and sewn down, and can be tried on, it is much heavier and stiffer. I knew this would happen, but not to this degree. It may soften over time, but for now, this thing thing seems ready for the next wave of tornadoes (Hell, the winds howling right now, and if it weren't for the rain, I'd probably be outside testing that theory) and once I add the cargo pockets and under apron pockets, it should be even better.

[Dixiecat]

hello kitty sewing machine

Hopefully, this will make you feel better about the machine you're using....

[Makeitstop]

It. Is. Done.

Well, I finished my x-kilt, and for the most part I am pleased. I must still wash and iron it, and there are some minor flaws that only I am aware of, but overall it is exactly what I need; a functional kilt.

Pics to come, as soon as I can borrow a camera.

Hopefully, this will make you feel better about the machine you're using....

I so need one of those.

[Dixiecat]

some minor flaws that only I am aware of

Don't ever, EVER mention these except to other sew-ers. Truly, no non-sew-ers can ever appreciate the mistake...

As my mother always said: walk fast, no one will notice.